Pile fabric cutting machine



July 17, 1962 J. c. GASKINS PILE FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1958 GASKINS INVENTOR.

JACK C.

ATTORNEY July 17, 1962 J. c. GASKINS FILE FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1958 INVENTOR. JACK C. GASKINS ATTORNEY July 17, 1962 'J. c. GASKINS 3,044,141

PILE FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I JACK C. GASKINS l I l BY J ATTORNEY 3,044,141 FILE FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE Jack C. Gaskins, Lanett, Ala., assignor to Batson-Cook Company, West Point, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,283 6 Claims. (CI; 26-10) This invention relates to a pile cutting machine, and more particularly concerns an improved arrangement for driving and stopping so as to permit high-speed travel of fabric through such a machine.

In the manufacture of pile fabrics, such as velvet and corduroy, parallel piles or ribs of looped threads are formed on a backing in such manner as to require the tops of the ribs to be cut open in a finishing operation. To effect such cutting, a guide is forced lengthwise into each rib by a pusher as the fabric passes through the machine. These guides are driven in reciprocating motion from a cam shaft, and are each formed with a slot for receiving a rotating circular cutter, the arrangement being such that each cutter is freely supported for slight lateral movement so as to permitits retention within the slot as the guide feels its way into a fabric rib. In this manner, each guide separates the looped threads of each rib and properly presents the rib threads to the cutters as the fabric is pulled through the machine, the ribs being raised and cut so as to allow the backing to fall away clear of the rotating cutter.

Occasionally an irregularity occurs which causes a guide to pierce the backing or one of the ribs. It is then necessary to stop the machine before the rib is cut at the point where the fault occurred. Otherwise, of course, if a guide were to pierce the backing, it would raise the backing into one of the cutters; or, if a guide were to come out of a rib on the top side of the fabric, a skip in the cut would result, withthe resulting imperfection necessitating a later cutting by hand.

It is one of the objects of this invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved pile cutting machine in which, upon the occurrence of a fault, the fabric travel is automatically stopped with a minimum of over-travel or overrun so as to facilitate fault correction.

It is also one of the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved pile cutting machine which is capable of handling fabric at a high rate of travel with the same or less over-run, upon actuation of its stopping mechanisms, than found in conventional low-speed machines of this type.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pile cutting machine in which a fault in the operation thereof will eflfect a rapid stop in the travel of the fabric through the machine without severe shock loads to the drive components as found in conventional machines where the high inertia of all moving mechanisms must be harnessed to effect stoppage of the fabric travel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pile cutting machine which initiates rotation of the pile cutters prior to movement of fabric through the machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pile cutting machine which is simple in construction and operation and is well adapted to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

Many other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like designators refer to the same or similar parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a pile cutting machine according to my invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, partly broken away, of

A FIG. 1.

ice

a plurality of cross members such as crossbeam 12. A

roll 13 of uncut fabric or cloth is supported on roller pin 14 across the rearward end of the machine, the latter being journalled in pillow blocks, as at 15, which are secured to the side frames. From roll 13, the fabric, as indicated by broken line 16, passes over a pair of drag rollers 17 and 18, each of which is also suitably supported in pillow blocks, as at 20, on the side frames. Drag on the fabric is regulated in conventional manner by friction bands 21 passing over the friction wheels 22 on both ends of each drag roll beyond the side frames, the arrangement being such that each band has one end secured to a bracket 23 on a side frame and the other end secured to a suitable variable tensioning device, as at 24. To maximize the peripheral contact surface of each drag ro1ler,.the fabric passes about the guide rollers 25 and 26 rotatably secured between the side frames below drag rollers 17 and 18, respectively, the arrangement being such that fabric passes from the underside of roll 13, about guide roller 25, drag roller 17, guide roller 26 and drag roller 18 in conventional serpentine fashion. The fabric next passes between the adjacent crossrods 27 and 28 being secured between a pair of crank-shaped fabric return levers 29 which are each pivotally mounted to one of the side frames. Upon stopping of the machine to rectify a fault, the lever 29 may be pivoted forwardly on crossrod 27 to pull fabric backwardly so as to facilitate correction. From this point, the uncut fabric passes through the guide and cutter assembly, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3, and then downwardly about friction drive roller 31. Maximum surface contact between the fabric and drive. roller 31 is obtained by passing the fabric about guide roller 32 which is rotatably supported between the side frames rearwardly of the drive roller. The fabric then passes downwardly to crossrod 33 bolted across the lower part of the machine, and then backwardly through the entire length of the machine to form the take-out roll 35 supported on crosspin 36 that is rotatably supported in pillow blocks 37 secured to the side frames.

Considering in more detail the drive arrangement of the machine, main drive motor 40, which is supported under drive roller 31 on cross members, such as crossbeam 12, drives countershaft 41 through belt drive 42 between sheaves 43 and 44 secured, respectively, to motor shaft 45 and countershaft 41. Countershafit 41 is rotatably supported in bearings 46 and 47, which are bolted, respectively, to side frame 10 and side plate 48 that depends from offset beam 50. Beam 50 is supported from the spaced side frame extension arms 51 and 52, the arrangement being such as to define an opening between beam 50 and side frame 10 to receive therethrough the belt drive arrangements for-the cam and cutter shafts, as will now be seen. Cutter shaft 53 is rotated by belt drive 54 secured between sheave 55 on countershaft 41 and sheave 56 on the cutter shaft. Rotatablysupporting cutter shaft 53 are spaced bearings 57, 58 and 59, with bearings 58 and 59 each being suported through a pivot 60 mounted from one of the side frames, and bearing 57 being supported on ofiset beam 50 by way of a similar pivot mount 60, which is partly broken away to show the stationary base 61, pivot pin 62, and upper pivotal member 63 thereof. Each upper member 63 has an arm 64 extending rearwardly for releasable engagement tional mechanism including release lever 67 which is spring loaded :by the over-center spring arrangement at 68, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

In addition to driving cutter shaft 53, motor 4!) also drives cam shaft 70 which is journalled through pillow blocks 71 and 72 that are supported from side frames and 11, iespectively. For this purpose, sheave 73 is mounted on countershaft 41 adjacent sheave 55 for driving 'belts 75 and sheave 76 at the input to gear reducer 77, the arrangement being such that cam shaft 70 is directly driven from the gear reducer at a lesser angular velocity than the cutter shaft.

The other end of cam shaft 70 is keyed to pinion gear 80 which drives clutch input gear 81, the hub- 82 of which is journalled on the end of the fabric drive roller axle 83 by bearing 84. Providing for selective coupling of the clutch input gear 81 with drive roller axle 83 is a generally conventional electromagnetic clutch 86. The "outer member of clutch 86 is on annular armature 87 that is supported for free axial movement on the clutch input gear hub by a plurality of studs 88 radially secured to the hub and extending inwardly therefrom. The inner member of clutch 86, including the electromagnet 90, is bolted to side frame 11 by the annular bearing housing 91 which centers drive roller axle 83 therethrough by central bearing 92. The intermediate member of the clutch includes a friction plate 93 which is keyed to axle 83 of the drive roller for rotation therewith. A'n annular ring of friction facing material 95 is mounted on the friction plate adjacent armature 87 but resiliently spaced therefrom by coil springs 96 each concentrically position'ed about one of the armature mounting studs 88. As is Well understood by those skilled in the art, energization of electromagnet 90 causes the armature 87 to be generally conventional electromagnetic brake 98' that is operable in conjunction with electromagnetic clutch 86 on the other end of'the drive roller, as will hereinafterbe seen. Axle 97 passes through the side frame 10, being rotatably supported therein by bearing 1ii0'centered in a housing 101 which is secured by bolts 102 to side frame 10. At the outer end of axle 97 is keyed a hub 103 that-is provided radially about the inner face thereof with a plurality of inwardly extending mounting studs 105 for slidable axial movement thereon of the annular armature 106. Supported from bearing housing 101 is the "annular electromagnet 107 which, upon'energization, re-- rotation of the drive roller is efiected through the clutch andcam shaft from main drive motor 40. It will be noted, however, that for such rotation to be accomplished not only must the clutch be engaged, but the brake must be disengaged so as; to free the drive roller for rotation in response to rotation of the drive motor through V the cam shaft.

Main drive motor 40 also effects rotation of the takeout roll 35 by a suitable drive arrangement to the crosspih 36. For this purpose 'sheave110'is mounted 'on the motor shaft '45 for driving belt 111 so as to rotate countershaft '112 through the sheave 113 that is secured "thereto. a The countershaft is mounted on pillow blocks,

as at '115, secured to the side frames and has mounted thereon pulley -116 from which a flat belt 117 drives pulley 118 secured to the take-out roll crosspin 36 Belt 117 is preach design as to permit slipping, thereby transmitting that is secured to cross support 122.

4 motion to take-up roll 35 only as fabric is available from fabric drive roller 31,. the arrangement being such that as take-out roll 35 increases in diameter, belt slippage increases commensurately, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

For a better understanding of the guide and cutter arrangement, reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein it can be seen that each of the cams 120 of cam shaft 70 effects slidable movement of a guide pusher 121 on cross support 122 having its camming surface engaged with aroller wheel 123 journalled in one end of the pusher. Maintaining the guide pusher wheel against the cam and providing for return of the guide pusher is spring 124 which is adjustably tcnsioned by eyehook 125 As is well understood by those skilled in theart, each guide pusher 121 drives a loosely suported needle-like guide 126 into a fabric rib 127 a short length upon each rearward oc currence of the projecting portion of the camrning surface. To distribute the load on the cam shaft evenly, each of the camrning projections is at a distinct radial position. In this arrangement, the loose support of each guide 126 permits it to shift laterally with the fabric so as to keep its cutter 128 aligned in the slot 129 of the guide, as will be more clearly understood by reference to FIG. 4;

Considering the guide fault detecting arrangement utilized in the present invention, each guide 126 is supported at one end by guide pusher 121 and extends rearwardly over the transverse support bar 130 to pass between upper and lower contact bars 131 and 132. The uncut fabric passes between the upper and lower contact bars from the rearward end of the machine, receiving a guide in each rib thereof, and then over transverse member 134 for cutting of each rib by a rotary cutter 128 in a guide slot 129. Each cutter is loosely keyed to the cutter shaft, as at 136, for slight axial movement thereon so as to be retained in the guide slot as the guide shifts slightly to follow the rib of the fabric passing thereby. This arrangement is such that each guide 126 is electrically connected to ground potential by being in contact with a cutter 128, a pusher 121 and the transverse guide support bar 130. The upper and lower contact bars 131 and 132, and the rear contact bar 138, however, are at a positive potential, being connected to a positive source through guide fault detection relay 139 which actuates upon contact of one of the guides 126 with any of the contact bars, 131, 132 or 138, as will now be seen.

In the control arrangement of the present invention, power is received from a three-phase line 140 to energize main drive motor 40 through a conventional motor starter 141. When the normally open switch '142 is closed, relay coil 143 of motor starter 141 is energized from full-wave rectifier 145 that is connected across the line through single phase transformer 146. Motor 40 is thereupon energized through main contactor 147 of starter 141, and coil 148 of relay 149 is energized through auxiliary contactor '150. Time delay of relay '149 permits the cutters to start turning before drive roller 31 begins to move fabric through the machine. After suitable delay, contacts 151 of relay 149 close to complete the circuit from rectifier 145 to clutchbrake relay 152. Energization of coil 153 of this relay closes its. contactor 155 to energize the clutch electromagnet 90 from rectifier 145, and opens contactor 156 to de-energize brake electromagnet '107, thereby permitting fabric drive roller 31 to respond to rotation of the cam shaft. Energization of clutch-brake relay coil 153 also closes holding contactor 157 which bypassesthe start buttonto ground, so as to electrically hold-in relay coil 143 of motor starter .141. Shut-down of the machine is provided for by actuation of the normallyclosed switch 158 in series between the positive side 'of rectifier 145 and relay coil 143, thereby opening both main contactor 147 and auxiliary contactor of the motor starter.

As heretofore described, engagement of clutch and disengagement of brake permits cam shaft 70* to transmit motion to fabric drive roller 31 through cam shaft pinion 80 and input gear 81 so as to pull fabric onto the guides and under the cutters where the ribs are cut open. Should any guide pierce its associated rib and make electrical contact with top contact bar 131 or pierce the fabric backing and make electrical contact with bottom contact bar :132, or be dislodged and contact the rear contact bar 138, an electrical circuit would be completed through coil 16% of guide fault relay 139 to thepositive side of rectifier 145 so as to open fault relay contactor 162. Since the energizing circuit of the clutch-brake relay coil 153 is completed to ground through fault relay contactor 162, opening thereof effects de-energization of the clutch-brake relay, thereby de-energizing clutch electromagnet 90 so as to separate the relatively high inertia of the cam shaft with its associated mechanisms from the drive roller. Simultaneously, clutch-brake relay contactor 156 closes so as to energize brake electromagnet 107, thereby permitting the brake to quickly stop rotation of the drive roller and the travel of the fabric through the machine.

By utilizing the brake and clutch arrangement of the present invention, it is possible to maintain a fabric travel rate of 20 yards per minute, with the same or less fabric over-travel as was heretofore acceptable in stopping conventional low-speed machines operating at yards per minute. In addition, this arrangement permits the high inertia of the motor, cutter, and guide driving mechanisms to be brought slowly to halt, thereby avoiding the severe shock loads to these mechanisms that result from conventional travel stopping arrangements.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a new and improved pile cutting machine which is well adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention. Moreover, whereas the invention has been described particularly with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention most nearly appertains that additional embodiments and modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pile fabric cutting machine, a cam shaft, a plurality of guides, means responsive to rotation of said cam shaft for driving said guides into the piles of a fabric passing through the machine, a cutter shaft, a plurality of cutters on said cutter shaft each associated with one of said guides, a motor driving said cam shaft and said cutter shaft, means for detecting faults in the operation of said guides, a drive roller for moving fabric through the machine, means coupling rotary motion of said cam shaft to said drive roller including a selectively operable electromagnetic clutch, a selectively operable electromagnetic brake secured to said drive roller, and circuit means responsive to operation of said fault detecting means for actuating said clutch so as to mechanically disconnect said fabric drive roller from said cam shaft, said circuit means also operable to simultaneously actuate said brake in response to said fault detecting means so as to stop rotation of said drive roller.

2. A pile fabric cutting machine for cutting pile loops in fabric comprising a frame having a pair of opposed walls, a drive roller mounted between said walls, a source of said fabric, aligned transversely spaced guides on said frame for engaging said loops, spaced contact bars carried by said frame below and above said guides so as to be contacted thereby when any of said guides are misaligned, said fabric being fed from said source of fabric between said contact bars, said roller being spaced below said contact bars whereby said fabric passes around one of said contact bars and diverges from said guides toward said roller, said fabric being driven by said roller, rotary cutters respectively associated with said guides, a shaft, a source of current, a motor for driving said shaft, an electromagnetic clutch on one of said walls for coupling said shaft and said roller, an electromagnetic brake for said roller and connected to the other of said walls, switch means for alternately connecting said brake and said clutch to said source of current whereby current is alternatelysupplied to said brake and said clutch, a circuit for actuating said switch means, said circuit being connected to said source of current and to said contact bars and said guides whereby a flow of current actuates said switch means when any one of said guides contacts either of said contact bars to brake said roller, said shaft reciprocating said guides, and time delay means for preventing the coupling action of said clutch until said motor has been energized for a predetermined length of time.

3. A pile fabric cutting machine comprising a frame having a pair of opposed walls, a drive roller mounted between said walls, a source of fabric having pile loops, aligned transversely spaced guides on said frame for engaging said loops, spaced contact bars carried by said frame below and above said guides so as to be selectively contacted thereby upon misalignment of any of said guides, said fabric being fed from said source of fabric'between said contact bars, said roller being spaced below said contact bars whereby said fabric passes around one of said contact bars and diverges from said guides toward said roller, said fabric being driven by said roller, rotary cutters respectively associated with said guides, a source of current, a motor for driving said roller, an electromagnetic clutch connected between said motor and said roller, an electromagnetic brake for said roller, switch means for connecting and disconnecting said brake and said clutch to said source of current whereby current is alternately supplied to said brake and said clutch, a circuit for actuating said switch means, said circuit being connected to said source of current and between said contact bars whereby a flow of current actuates said switch means when any one of said guides contacts either of said contact bars to brake said roller, and means for reciprocating said guides, said means for reciprocating said guides including cams for driving said guides, spring means for maintaining said guides in contact with said cams, a shaft carrying said cams, said shaft being connected between said motor and said clutch whereby said clutch and said shaft are driven when said motor is actuated.

4. In a pile fabric cutting machine, a plurality of guides arranged in a horizontal plane, a plurality of cams for moving said guides axially, a cam shaft carrying said earns, a plurality of circular knives arranged adjacent said guides for cutting loops of yarns carried by a base fabric and inserted on said guides, a knife shaft carrying said knives, a motor for rotating said knife shaft and said cam shaft simultaneously, a roller for moving said base fabric, an electromagnetic clutch for coupling when actuated said roller to said motor, an electromagnetic brake for arresting the rotation of said roller when said brake is actuated, switch means for selectively actuating said clutch while deactuating said brake and actuating said brake while deactuating said clutch, contact bars adjacentsaid guides for making electrical contact with any one of said guides when the guide is misaligned, a fault detecting circuit connected to said guides and said bars and to said switch means for actuating said switch means to deactuate said clutch and actuate said brake when electrical contact is made between any one of said guides and said contact bars, and time delay means connected to said switch means and connected to said motor for preventing the actuation of said coupling means by said switch means until said motor has been energized.

5. In a pile fabric cutting machine of the class having guides for receiving loops of the yarn carried by a base fabric, the guides being subject to misalignment when a fault occurs, a cutter shaft, a plurality of rotary cutters on said cutter shaft and respectively associated with said guides for cutting the loops thereon, a rotatable camshaft,

, t p 7 t t meansfor rotating said cutter shaft and said cam shaft simultaneously, a plurality of cams on said camshaft adapted to actuate said guides, a rotatable fabric drive roller for advancing said fabric, a selectively operable electromagnetic clutch for coupling the rotation of said cam shaft with the rotation of said drive roller, a selec- 'tively operable electromagnetic brake connected to said drive roller and circuit means actuated by the misalignment of any one of said guides for simultaneously disengaging said clutch and engaging said brake so as to stop the rotation of said drive roller independently of said cam shaft.

6. In a pile fabric cutting machine of the class having guides for receiving loops of the yarn carried by a base fabric, the guides being subject to misalignment when a fault occurs, a cutter shaft, a plurality of rotary cutters on said cutter shaft and respectively associated with said guides for cutting the loops thereon, a rotatable cam shaft, means for rotating said cutter shaft and said cam shaft simultaneously, a plurality of cams on said cam shaft 8 a r 1 adapted to actuate said guides, a rotatable fabric drive roller for advancing said fabric, a selectively operable electromagnetic clutch for coupling the rotation of said cam shaft with the rotation of said drive roller, a selectively operable electromagnetic brake connected to said drive roller and circuit means actuated by the misalign ment of any one of said guides for simultaneously disengaging said clutch and engaging said brake so as to stop the rotation of said drive roller independently of said cam shaft, and a time delay means in circuit with said clutch and said brake for preventing engagement of said clutch and disengagement of said brake until said motor has been actuated for a predetermined period of time.

15 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 806,204 Stansfield Dec. 5, 1905 87 6,462 Keighley et a1 I an. 14, 1908 29 907,334 Gildard Dec. 22, 1908 2,642,169 Hutchison June 16, 1953 

